Violent clashes
between thugs of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom State has left three people dead
and several others injured. The clashes took place in Okoita, and Abat
Etim Ekpo Ward 1 in Ibiono Ibom and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of
the state. The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Emmanuel
Enoidem, who hails from Etim Ekpo blamed the violence on Ime Umanah,
the ACN deputy governorship candidate.
He alleged that
“Ime Umanah mobilised his boys in several buses from Abak where he
comes from to come and attack our supporters in Etim Ekpo. He has
always played the opposition but I know the PDP will match him money
for money and votes for votes.” NEXT learnt that the supporters of the
PDP had allegedly ambushed ACN members who were on a campaign tour of
Okoita, the headquarters of Ibiono-Ibom, and started shooting
sporadically at the convoy. This led to a clash which turned violent,
leaving several persons with both gunshots and machete wounds and at
least three persons reportedly killed.
In a swift
revenge, ACN supporters were said to have gone on rampage destroying
the Godswill Akpabio 2011 Campaign secretariat in Ibiono Ibom and
pulled down several campaign billboards of the governor.
Members of the ACN
had a day earlier complained of the destruction of the campaign
billboards of its governorship candidate, John Akpan Udodeghe in Itu
Local Government Area and some other places by the PDP supporters there.
When the Police
Commissioner, Sani Magaji was contacted, he confirmed that there was a
little skirmish but he denied serious clash that would result in the
loss of lives.
Action Congress denies
However, the ACN
has debunked the allegation of causing the violence. According to the
head of Publicity and Media of Udoedehe Campaign Organisation, Thomas
Akpan, it was wrong for Mr Enoidem to put the blame on the ACN,
alleging that the PDP was the mastermind of the whole event owing to
fear that they may not win the elections.
“Ime Umana is an
Annang man; he does not come from ibibio. It is not Ime Umana who
sponsored the attack as alleged by Enoidem. He could not come from
Annang to sponsor attack in Ibinio Ibom, which is Ibibio heartland.” He
said he was aware of the clash in Ibinio Ibom and not that of Etim
Ekpo, alleging that, “PDP puposely planned that ACN should not hold
their rally after we had collected the police permit to do so. It was
there and then the conflict arose,” he said.
